Osama bin Laden was a Saudi Arabian terrorist and the founder of the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda. He was responsible for numerous terrorist attacks, including the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001. He was killed by US special forces in Pakistan in 2011.
Super rich Family, connection with Saudi Officials
Osama bin Laden’s family was extremely wealthy. His father, Muhammad bin Laden, was a billionaire construction magnate in Saudi Arabia who built a vast business empire with connections to the Saudi royal family. The family business, The bin Laden Group, was one of the largest construction firms in the Middle East, with projects throughout the region, including the construction of the holy mosques in Mecca and Medina.
After Muhammad bin Laden’s death in 1967, the family business was inherited by his sons, including Osama bin Laden. It is estimated that at its peak, the bin Laden family’s fortune was worth billions of dollars. However, after Osama bin Laden’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks, many international companies cut ties with the bin Laden Group and the Saudi royal family distanced themselves from the bin Laden family, which led to a decline in the family’s wealth.
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From a genius engineer to an extremist Islamic terrorist
Osama bin Laden was born into a wealthy family in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1957. He was the 17th of 52 children and was raised in a privileged and wealthy household. He received a religious and secular education, and as a young man, he was not particularly religious or politically active.
In the 1970s, bin Laden joined his family’s construction business, the bin Laden Group, and traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. He also studied civil engineering at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
It was during his time at university that bin Laden became radicalized. He was deeply affected by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and the perceived lack of response from the Muslim world. He began to see the Soviet presence in Afghanistan as a threat to Islam and became involved in the Afghan resistance.
In the 1980s, bin Laden helped to fund and support the Afghan mujahideen, and he formed the group al-Qaeda (which means “the base” in Arabic) in 1988. The group’s goal was to drive the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan and establish a pan-Islamic state.
After the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989, al-Qaeda turned its attention to the United States and other Western countries, which it saw as enemies of Islam. Bin Laden orchestrated several terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies, including the bombing of the US embassy in Nairobi in 1998 and the attack on the USS Cole in 2000. Meanwhile, the most famous and devastating attack was the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, which resulted in the death of nearly 3,000 people.
Terrorist activities of Osama Bin Laden
Osama bin Laden was the founder and leader of the Islamic extremist group al-Qaeda, which was responsible for numerous terrorist attacks throughout the world. Some of the most notable and deadly attacks orchestrated by al-Qaeda and led by bin Laden include:
- The bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City in 1993. A truck bomb in the underground parking garage of the North Tower. Killing six people and injuring over a thousand.
- The bombing of the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 1998. Truck bombs were at the embassies, killing over 200 people and injuring thousands.
- The attack on the USS Cole in 2000: al-Qaeda operatives in Yemen detonated a small boat filled with explosives alongside the USS Cole. A US Navy destroyer, while it was refueling in the port of Aden, killing 17 US sailors and injuring 39.
- The September 11 attacks in 2001: al-Qaeda hijackers hijacked four commercial airplanes. Crashed them into the World Trade Center towers in New York City. The Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, killed nearly 3,000 people and injured thousands.
- The 2002 Bali bombings in Indonesia: al-Qaeda-linked terrorists set off a series of bombs in tourist areas on the island of Bali, killed over 200 people and injured hundreds.
- The 2004 Madrid train bombings: al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorists detonated a series of bombs on commuter trains in Madrid, Spain, killing 191 people and injuring thousands.
These are just some of the most high-profile attacks by al-Qaeda under the leadership of Osama bin Laden, but the group was responsible for many other terrorist attacks and attempted attacks throughout the world.
How was Osama Bin Laden buried?
Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011, in Pakistan by a team of United States Navy SEALs during a raid on his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The operation, “Operation Neptune Spear,” was the Navy’s SEAL Team Six and was from President Barack Obama. The raid resulted in the death of bin Laden and several other individuals at the compound. Bin Laden’s body was later at sea. The death of bin Laden was widely around the world as a significant victory in the fight against terrorism.
Why sea burial
The US government has stated that Osama bin Laden’s body was at sea. From the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier. Within 24 hours of his death on May 2, 2011, in accordance with Islamic tradition. The decision to bury bin Laden at sea was made in part. While because of the difficulty in finding a country willing to accept his remains.
Another factor that influenced this decision was to avoid creating a shrine or grave. That could become a focus of extremist activity. If a burial location was public, it is possible that it could become a pilgrimage site for extremists. And could become a focal point for demonstrations and violence.
Additionally, burying bin Laden at sea also avoided any potential diplomatic issues that could arise from his burial on land. Some countries may have refused to accept his remains. And there was a possibility of protests or violence if his body was in a Muslim country. Or if his body was buried in a non-Muslim country.
It’s worth noting the US government’s decision to bury bin Laden at sea. It was based on the principle of respecting the cultural and religious beliefs of the deceased. As well as to ensure that the body was with dignity and respect. Burial at sea, where the body is in a white shroud and clean. It’s in line with Islamic tradition and customs.
